A NEW artwork in the centre of Monmouth commemorates the town’s cattle market with life-size sculptures of an auctioneer and livestock.

The three sculptures depict Jim Shankland, assistant to the agricultural auctioneers known formerly as Rennie, Taylor & Till, along with Welsh Mountain sheep and a Hereford bull.

Monmouth is one of 79 communities to be involved in the Sustrans national social history project The Portrait Bench, which recognises inspirational individuals across the UK.

The life-size figures were cut from sheet steel and installed by a simple bench.

The characters were chosen by the Monmouth Links steering group from a list of suggestions by the public.

The bench is at the southern end of town, on the old livestock market site next to Monnow Bridge. Monmouthshire councillor Bryan Jones said: “Monmouth is a town rich with history, I am so pleased that the livestock market has been commemorated in such a thoughtful and interactive way.

“I hope that locals and visitors to the town take a minute to sit on the bench and think about what once existed in the town.

"It is fantastic to see local people remembered and even more pleasing to see nominations came from local residents.”